Practice Leader
Job No:
FedCourt21
Location:
Various
- APS 6
- $74,610 to $85,705 per annum plus superannuation
- Non-ongoing/Ongoing, full-time
- Positions may be available in Perth, Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns and Melbourne.
Organisational Context
The National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT) is an authority established by the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) (the Act) which has offices in four Australian States.
The Tribunal comprises a President and members, who are appointed by the Governor General under the Act to make decisions, conduct inquiries, reviews and mediations, and assist various parties with native title applications, and Indigenous Land Use Agreements.
The Tribunal is supported by the Native Title Registrar (Registrar), who together with the President and members, have separate and specific functions and responsibilities to perform under the Act. Staff assisting the Tribunal and the Registrar are employed by the Federal Court of Australia.
Position Overview
The Practice Leader is responsible for providing mentoring and support to staff, promoting teamwork and staff development. The Practice Leader will plan work tasks to achieve results, including decision-making and writing, in support of members and the Registrar.
The Practice Leader supports the Practice Manager in providing assistance to the Practice Directors, President and members of the Tribunal and the Registrar in the discharge of their functions and powers under the Act.
The role requires frequent contact with internal and external stakeholders, working effectively as part of a team, displaying the ability to work independently and showing initiative.
As a member of the Practice Team, the Practice Leader will also be required to continually maintain and share knowledge amongst the national team.
The Practice Leader role would suit someone who is comfortable working within statutory and procedural frameworks, enjoys working and communicating with a diverse range of people and has a good eye for detail. Legal training would be an advantage.
Major Activities
- Support the Practice Managers and Practice Directors in the provision of expertise and technical knowledge of Tribunal and Registrar statutory functions.
- Mentor and provide direction to Practice Officers and Practice Assistants, promoting teamwork and staff development.
- Develop and maintain a sound understanding of relevant Commonwealth and State legislation and the NNTT’s statutory obligations under the Act.
- Apply approved records and information management practices in compliance with the NNTT Records & Information Management Policy and Procedures.
- Exercise delegations within scope of delegated authority.
- Work with a high level of independence, setting priorities and managing competing workloads to ensure quality and timely outputs.
- Provide high level decision making, analysis and written products in support of the President, members and Registrar.
- Work as an effective team member, promoting team cohesion, but also displaying initiative and ability to work autonomously.
- Engage with external clients in accordance with the organisation’s stakeholder engagement plan, exhibiting clear communication and a positive image of the NNTT.
- Display an understanding of the NNTT’s corporate governance framework, actively participating in operational planning
- Support and contribute to the achievement of Corporate Plan and Operational Plan strategies by actively promoting and identifying areas of improvement, contributing to team forums and contributing to managing change.
- Perform other duties as reasonably required and directed.
Competencies & Attributes
- Possess an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Possess an ability to communicate sensitively with and to demonstrate cultural understanding of and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Demonstrate the ability to engage and energise individuals and groups. Demonstrate the ability to develop strategies and work plans; identify problems and options for their resolution.
- Display a high standard of compliance with organisational practices and procedures and ownership of work.
- Maintain a high level of integrity of data held within the systems of the NNTT by ensuring data entry is correct and an accurate reflection of the status of matters.
- Possess well developed interpersonal skills and the ability to represent the NNTT in a variety of forums displaying discretion, integrity and sensitivity.
- Display clear and positive communication with internal and external parties, with the ability to present information in a clear, concise and articulate manner, focusing on key points and using appropriate, unambiguous language.
- Ability to work within a statutory framework including capacity to comprehend and apply the provisions of the Act.
Formal Qualifications
Tertiary qualifications, demonstrating research, communication and critical thinking skills, such as legal qualifications, while not essential, would be an advantage.
Selection Criteria
- Possessing and demonstrating an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
- Possessing and demonstrating an ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
- Demonstrated ability to work within a statutory framework including high-level knowledge of the provisions of the Native Title Act 1993 (Cth) and other relevant legislation, policies and procedures.
- Demonstrated oral and interpersonal communication skills to communicate effectively with stakeholders across all levels and the ability to build and sustain a network of positive working relationships with key people, internally and externally.
- Demonstrated ability to remain positive and flexible in a changing environment, and to lead and assist team members to adapt.
- Demonstrated ability to take responsibility for achieving work outcomes within agreed timeframes.
- Demonstrated ability to act impartially and professionally with external clients and parties and operate within the boundaries of organisational processes, constraints and APS values.
Please Note: This vacancy is advertised as an ‘identified position’ as both the role and the work of the National Native Title Tribunal have a strong involvement in issues relating to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. Successful applicants are required to have knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and the ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people (criteria 1 & 2 above).
Successful applicants will be expected to provide a reference from an Indigenous referee, where possible, to confirm they can meet these requirements.
For further information about Identified Positions see http://www.apsc.gov.au/managing-in-the-aps/indigenous/identified-positions.
Eligibility
Employment with the Court is subject to the terms and conditions in the Public Service Act 1999, and the following conditions:
1. Australian citizenship – the successful applicant must hold Australian citizenship;
2. National Police Check – the successful applicant must satisfy a Police Records Check, and may also be required to complete security clearances during the course of their employment;
3. Health clearance – the successful applicant will be required to complete a health declaration and may be required to attend a medical assessment to confirm their fitness for duty.
Interested candidates who have received a redundancy benefit from an APS agency are welcome to apply, but note that they cannot be engaged until their redundancy benefit period has expired.
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander job seekers and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
How to Apply
To be considered you will need to upload a concise statement of claims (2000 word maximum total) addressing the selection criteria detailing how your experience and skills relate to the position description and selection criteria and attach an up to date resume by 11:55PM on 12 February 2018.
For more information contact Jasmin Whitfield, Business Support Manager, by jobs@nntt.gov.au or phone 1800 640 501 or 08 9425 1088.
Indigenous Contact Officer Contact details:
Tracey Jefferies: Tracey.Jefferies@nntt.gov.au or phone 1800 640 501 or 07 3307 5000.